The Intimidation Game (Game Series Book 1) Read online

  I’m busy looking out the window at the river when a slight creak from behind makes me jump and I whip around to find Dan standing in the doorway. Damn him he looks amazing. I can feel my resolve slipping with every second that goes by. We stand, staring at each other.

  “Can I help you Nikki?”

  “Um…” I can’t think what to say and as I watch him walk to his desk and sit down, I wonder if I’m making a mistake. Maybe I should just call him out but keep my job. There’s a phrase my mum uses: ‘Don’t cut your nose off to spite your face.’

  “Um… what?” He flicks a switch on the wall behind him and the wall of windows frost over.

  “I quit.” The words are out of my mouth before I even realise.

  Dan raises an eyebrow and smiles at me. “Really? You quit. Can I ask why?” His mocking tone is pissing me off.

  “I don’t want to be a part of this game anymore. I won’t be put at risk again.”

  “What are you talking about…put at risk? I never put you at risk Nikki. What you’re doing for me isn’t dangerous.”

  I turn away from him. “You’re dangerous,” I say under my breath.

  “Look at me when you’re talking to me Nikki.” He sounds angry. I can’t look at him right now because if I do, I know my resolve will crumble. “Look at me!” He shouts this time and bangs his fists on the desk.

  Startled I turn and look at him and his face is like thunder. I can’t help but start to cry. I came up here with a plan of what I was going to say and now I look like a scared little girl. “You’re fucking dangerous,” I spit the words at him.

  He stands up. “You don’t fucking know me. How the hell can you say I’m dangerous?”

  “I saw you yesterday… leaving here with Astrid… the way you… you touched her, you’re more than her boss. I could see it.” I talk between sobs. God almighty I don’t know if I’m this upset because I’ve been used or because deep down I’m jealous.

  “Nikki you don’t know what you saw.” He rounds the desk and comes towards me, his tall strong frame looming over me and I back away from him. “For fuck sake will you stop flinching every time I come near you. Do you think I’m going to hit you or something?” He steps back from me as realisation spreads over his face. “That’s what happened to you isn’t it?”

  “What would you know about it? You used me and you don’t even care what happened to me after what your girlfriend did to me.”

  “Oh my God,” he runs his hand down his face in exasperation, “you are going to have to tell me what the hell is going on here Nikki. I’m at a total loss. Will you sit down so we can talk about it?”

  I relent when I realise that he isn’t pretending. He really doesn’t know what I’m talking about. “Okay.”

  I sit down on one end of the white couch and he sits on the other. “So?”

  I don’t know where the hell to start. I should just tell him about what happened on Friday, but my stupid mouth has other ideas. “My ex abused me.”

  “Fuck. I knew it.” He clenches and unclenches his fists a few times. “Nikki I’m sorry.”

  “Why? You didn’t know. My bloody sister doesn’t even know. I’ve never told anyone.”

  “No, I’m sorry for what happened on Friday night. I wasn’t professional and I should never have spoken to you like that much less invaded your personal space.”

  “Why was she here on a Sunday?”

  “I met her in the foyer when I was heading out for dinner. She had been here using the gym. It was a complete coincidence that we left at the same time. And the touch? I have to keep things exactly as they are while I get all the evidence I need. I was only saying goodbye.”

  “You didn’t look friendly to her the first day I was here. You were downright nasty to her on my floor. That’s why I came up here that day. I was going to report you.”

  “Hmm. Yeah not the best thing for you to see but she had cornered me in the lift. It was a warning. I’m not interested. And now I know why she got out on the third floor. She wanted you to see that. She obviously feels threatened by you Nikki.”

  “Did you know Astrid spiked my drink on Friday while I was in the corridor with you? Did you tell her to do it?”

  “Fucking what? I didn’t even know she was at that club. You think I put her up to it? I can’t believe you’d think I would do that.”

  I’ve started now so I have to finish. “I woke up in some guy’s bed on Saturday morning. I don’t know how I got there, and I didn’t know where I was. I was fucking terrified Dan.”

  His eyes are like fire. “Did you…?” He shakes his head and I know what he wants to ask.

  “I don’t think so. I woke up fully clothed so chances are I passed out before anything could happen.” I shut my eyes and bow my head. “She took away my right to consent Dan.”

  “Hey.” He puts his finger under my chin and makes me look at him. “I’m going to have her fucking arrested Nikki. She’s more than crossed a line here.”

  “No.”

  “No? Why? She could have killed you. Anything could have happened to you.”

  “You need her.”

  “No, I can’t let you do this. I’ll get Jed some other way.”

  “I want to help Dan.”

  He puts his elbows on his knees and clasps his hands in front of him. I notice the tattoo he has on his left wrist. It’s a soundwave with a series of ones and zeros below it. Binary. I calculate it in my head. “Two Thousand and One.” My voice is merely a whisper, but he hears me because he covers it with his other hand.

  “Okay I’ll let it go, but please, don’t feel as though you have to put yourself at risk for this. There are other ways.”

  “I won’t and I promise, I’ll stay vigilant when it comes to Astrid. I have a feeling this isn’t the last thing in her repertoire.”

  “Good and I promise to remain professional around you Nikki. The last thing I want is for you to feel uncomfortable around me.”

  “Thank you, Dan. All I want is to do my job. I’ve had more than enough drama in my life, I need this to be where I finally fit in.”

  I stand and hold out my hand to him. He rises too and shakes my hand, his touch lingering a little longer than is customary for a boss and employee.

  He takes in a sharp breath and, as if remembering himself, lets go of my hand. “Thank you Nikki. For everything. I’m glad we can still work together; I’d hate to lose you.”

  I smile as I leave the office, Dan’s parting words playing over in my head. I’d hate to lose you. Not lose you as an employee, lose you. I shake my head and sigh at myself. I have got to stop this. It’s not healthy. But I have been left a little bit more intrigued by Dan’s story. That tattoo he so quickly covered when I worked it out. I leave with a plan to research a little more about Dan. I feel as though I may be able to understand him a little better if I know what makes him tick.

  I watch my staff all working away quietly at their desks, totally engrossed in their tasks. Damo has the afternoon off for a dental appointment and there’s an air of calm over the office today.

  Pulling my phone from my bag, I decide now is as good a time as any to look into Dan’s background. I already know about his career and his fortune, but I know nothing about his personal life. I hope against hope that he isn’t attached. Not for my own personal gain, I can’t go down that road again. I simply want to make sure he’s a good guy if I’m going to be working so closely with him.

  I type his name into my Safari app and watch as page links start to appear. Wikipedia is always a good one to start with, albeit not always completely accurate, it’s mostly a decent source of information. I tap it and start to read through the information.

  Born: Daniel King, Age 32, Glasgow, Scotland

  Occupation: Entrepreneur

  Parents: Marcus King and Stephanie King

  Siblings: Jason King

  Net Worth: £1.05bn

  I already know he’s a billionaire but seeing it actually writ
ten in front of me makes it all the more real. I was born into a little money, my dad was and still is paid very handsomely for his diplomatic work, and we were always around people with money when I was young. Dan’s wealth is colossal compared to what we had.

  As I read through his personal life details I gasp in shock. A sub-title brings tears to my eyes. Murder/Suicide of Parents. It makes sobering reading.

  On Monday 16th of July 2001, a housekeeper working for the King family arrived for work, having been given the weekend off by her employers, and found the bodies of Marcus and Stephanie King. It has been widely reported that Marcus King was indebted to a notorious Glasgow gangland figure and that the murder of his wife and his subsequent suicide were as a result of a hit being placed on him by said gangster.

  The couple’s two children, Daniel who was seventeen at the time and Jason who was twelve were not at home at the time of the incident.

  I feel physically sick at the thought of those poor boys losing their parents like that. Closing my phone and placing it face down on the desk, I sit back in my chair and sigh. Now I understand Dan’s need for his business to be above board. It makes more sense to me now that Jed’s betrayal runs a lot deeper than simply his theft of intellectual property. He probably saw Jed as family and to be let down by anyone is bad enough, but family, that’s a blow too low.

  Two thousand and one. Dan’s tattoo. I wonder why he’d want to be reminded of such a terrible time but then everyone grieves differently. Maybe he uses it as a tool to make sure he never ends up like his father. My research has me intrigued about Dan. I want to know about his life and how he and his brother coped after their parents were gone. A traumatic experience like that can have such a negative effect on some people and it warms my heart slightly to know that he did okay given his tragic past.

  Chapter Ten

  The rest of the week has been normal and every time I have seen Dan, he has been nothing but respectful and professional, just as he promised he would. I’ve also managed to be civil to Astrid although I almost wanted to knock her out on Tuesday when she asked how my weekend had been. I countered her smug smile with one of my own. I’m going to take great pleasure in bringing that bitch down.

  I feel like I’m in a spy novel right now. My little team are doing great work on this new project at the moment but, being that it’s only in the planning stage, there’s not a lot I can do to doctor the work they’re doing. I’m on my way to Dan’s office to hand in the weeks work and discuss what he wants me to give to Jed. The elevator opens on the twelfth floor and as I step off, I see the walls in Dan’s office are frosted. I’ve come to realise that means he’s with someone. I’ve also learned this week that when he had this place built, he had his apartment put in so that he could crash here if he needed to, which happens quite a lot. He has a home outside the city, but he spends most of his time working so he’s usually always here.

  Tabitha nods to me. “Afternoon Nikki.”

  “Hi Tabitha. I take it he’s busy.”

  “Yeah take a seat. Would you like a coffee?”

  “No, I’m good thanks.”

  I’m seated less than a minute when the office door opens, and Jed emerges. He nods to me as he strides towards the elevator. It’s five past one on a Friday so he obviously thinks he’s been kept too late. I’m about to stand when Astrid comes to the door with Dan at her back. As soon as she sees me, she puts on a little show.

  “Bye Danny, have a nice weekend darling.” She turns and runs a red polished fingernail down his cheek. I see his jaw tense. God she’s nasty and I hate to admit it but I’m jealous.

  “Bye Astrid.” His tone is dismissive, and it makes me happy.

  She walks past the seating area and looks at me. “Oh, hi Nikki, I didn’t see you there.”

  The fucking hell you didn’t. “Hi Astrid.”

  “He’s all yours.” She flicks her hair behind her and swings her hips as she walks to the elevator.

  Dan rolls his eyes and smiles at me. “Hi Nikki.” My name sounds like honey rolling off his tongue.

  “I’ll just be a second.”

  He nods and walks back into his office. I pull my phone out of my bag and send a quick text to Charlie.

  Hey sis. I’ll be as quick as I can. If you don’t hear from me in 20 mins phone me. X

  I need this weekend to start as soon as possible and the more time I spend with Dan the more I’m falling for him. I just want to get out of here and enjoy Gina’s hen weekend without any complications or thoughts of tattooed, handsome as fuck men.

  “So that was nice little show Astrid was putting on for me there,” I say as I enter Dan’s office and take a seat in front of his desk.

  “Hmm, she’s close to crossing so many lines it’s unreal. I have to keep her onside though, so I’ll just have to try and avoid her as much as possible.”

  “I think there’s something seriously wrong with that girl Dan, she’s twisted.”

  “You’re not wrong there. So down to business. I don’t want to keep you here longer than you need to be. How has the first week working on the software gone?”

  I nod enthusiastically. “It’s going brilliantly. Your plan to have different people working on their own little piece of it was genius. I got everyone’s initial plans back this morning and I can see how good they are at their jobs already. When you read it all together, it’s as though it was put together by a full team working as one.”

  Dan smiles. “Excellent. That’s exactly the feedback I wanted. I’ll get Tabitha to switch some things around in this and type up the final draft and your team can get to work with the bones of the project from next week. Great work Nikki, thank you.”

  I smile back at him, pleased at myself for holding it together and sticking the job out. I really think it could be great working here, as long as I can keep my relationship with Dan professional. I can’t put myself through that type of misery again.

  “Yay. My little sis is here.” Charlie grabs me and squashes me right into her body in a tight hug.

  “Charlie you’re suffocating the poor lassie,” Gina laughs as she walks over to us and I get out of Charlie’s hold and give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

  “Thanks Gina. How much has she had to drink? It’s only three o’clock.”

  “Oh, honey I think it’s a combination of not drinking for so long when she was pregnant and missing her baba. She hasn’t really had that much to be fair.”

  “I’m not drunk, I’m just excited and a wee bit tipsy,” Charlie says pointing her finger at me. “Come on, I don’t get to spend much time alone these days, so I’ll enjoy two nights away. Yes, I’ll miss Georgie, but she’ll be there when I get back.”

  Gina raises her voice over the chatter. “Right I think that’s us all here so let’s get going.”

  Gina’s Hen weekend is in a spa resort at an old stately home between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Apparently, a Baron used to live there so I’m expecting it to be very grand indeed. As we all pile into the waiting minibus, I smile genuinely for the first time in ages. It’s as though my life is being realigned and I’m getting what I deserve out of it. I’m having fun with my friends and work is going well now that I’ve found my feet. I bat down the little voice that tells me it’s too good to be true as I take my seat on the bus. Shut up stupid voice!

  When Gina said this place was a country house, she didn’t let on that it was like a castle. What better way to spend a weekend than getting pampered and relaxing in a Scottish castle? It’s sprawling gardens and beautiful architecture look magnificent and imposing, even in the drizzling rain.

  We are met at the door by some staff who take our bags, check us in and show us to our rooms. Since we are a party of eleven, I’ve managed to bag myself a single room. Everyone else is sharing twin rooms, with Gina and Charlie sharing a suite. I’m pleased. A little down time to rest is exactly what I need. I have to try and get over my attraction to Dan. I know it could never possibly work and I vowed wh
en I walked away from Mike that I’d never get into a work relationship situation like that again. It’s too complicated and I have to convince myself that he feels the same way. An instant attraction to someone is only natural, it’s how we are built to find a mate in life, but it doesn’t mean we have to act on it. Dan is a good looking guy, there was no way I wasn’t going to be attracted to him on sight.

  I’ve been given a package of beauty treatments to have over the weekend. I see Gina has spared no expense on this trip as I take in the bottle of champagne cooling in an ice bucket on a small table in the middle of the room.

  I’m about to open my little wheelie case when a message makes my phone buzz. Damo told me to FaceTime as soon as I got here to show him the place.

  Did you get there ok? I’m dying to see the place. X

  I select his number from my FaceTime app and when he appears on the screen before the end of the first ring I laugh.

  “You’re keen.”

  “I’m on tent hooks here woman.”

  “Tent hooks?”

  “Och it’s something my ma always said, she could never get it right. Who cares, show me the place.” He’s like a child at Christmas waiting to get stuck into his presents.

  “Okay, you ready? This place is stunning.”

  He squeals with delight and by the time I’m finished showing him the beauty of the castle and its grounds he’s suitably impressed and as we hang up, I’m left wishing he’d been able to come here too. I’m grateful to have him as a friend. He’s never once judged me or wanted anything from me other than friendship. I’ve definitely found a friend for life in him.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Charlie, I don’t want to go home. I want to win the lottery and live here,” I say lazily as we lie on loungers by the indoor pool. I’ve had the best weekend of pampering and relaxation, but it feels like only five minutes ago we got here.